February 2026 Ministry recap


Dorm Ministry & PPC Updates

This month has been full. Full of hope. Full of service. Full of joy. But also full of concern.

I wanted to write this newsletter with only good updates. I wanted to simply share victories in ministry, growth in our dorm, and answered prayers in our small business. But life does not always come in neat and clean reports. Sometimes we serve God while carrying a burden quietly in our hearts.

And I believe many of you understand that.

2 Timothy 4:7

When the Body Feels Weak but the Spirit Must Stay Strong

For the past weeks, my husband Vandy has been experiencing recurring abdominal pain. It is not new. Two years ago he underwent colonoscopy and endoscopy procedures because the pain became too much to ignore. We were afraid then. We did not know what the doctors would find. By God’s grace, the results came back negative. No serious findings. We were relieved.

Vandy is the healthiest person in our family. He eats carefully. He exercises daily. Since the pandemic, we have practiced fasting and normally eat only twice a day. He rarely gets sick. He is the one who cares for others. That is why when he is the one in pain, it worries all of us deeply.

Recently the discomfort has increased. His doctor suggested a more thorough procedure called capsule endoscopy. It is a tiny capsule with a camera that a patient swallows. It records what is happening inside the small intestine, an area difficult to examine through regular endoscopy.

This procedure is now available here in Cambodia. Two hospitals from Singapore and Thailand are offering these. The challenge is, the cost would reach up to $9,000! 😢😭😵😰 

We are scheduled to visit the Philippines this April. It will be our first time flying home since 2019. Seven years away. We were excited. We still are. But now the trip feels different. It feels urgent.

I contacted St. Luke’s Medical Center in the Philippines because it is the only hospital that offers capsule endoscopy at the moment. When they replied with the estimated cost, we were shocked. The procedure alone may cost around 120,000++ pesos ($2000 to $3000) excluding professional fees. It is far beyond what we prepared for this trip.

Last night Vandy and I sat quietly. A tiny capsule costs more than our travel budget. More than what we saved. For a moment we were speechless.

As a wife, I felt anxious. I want him to have clarity. I want him to receive the best diagnosis possible. I want to know how to manage his pain properly. But the numbers do not align with our plans.

Vandy looked at me calmly and said, “We will pray. If God allows it, He will provide. If not, He is still good.”

His peace convicted me.

This is where Proverbs 21:5 speaks gently to my heart. The plans of the diligent lead to abundance. We did plan. We saved. We prepared. But the verse also reminds us not to be hasty. Not to rush in fear. Not to act out of panic.

We plan carefully. Then we surrender fully.

Theme Verse: Proverbs 21:5 and 2 Timothy 4:7

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance.”
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Is This Part of the Race?

Throughout February, my devotion time kept pointing me to one theme. Run the race. Fight the good fight. Finish strong.

It almost feels like God has been preparing our hearts for something.

In 2 Timothy 4:7, Paul did not say life was easy. He did not say ministry was comfortable. He said he fought. He endured. He finished.

Maybe this health concern is part of our race. Maybe this financial stretch is part of the fight. Maybe this season is teaching us again that missions is not about comfort. It is about faithfulness.

To those who feel called to mission work, please hear this gently. The calling is beautiful. But it is not always convenient. Sometimes it touches your health. Sometimes your savings. Sometimes your comfort. But the reward is not here. The reward is finishing strong.

Running the Race Together

This month I shared four reflections on the blog. I want to summarize them here because they connect deeply to what we are living right now.

1. Let Us Run the Race Together 👈

Serving in Cambodia has always been both an opportunity and a gift. I never imagined that in this mission field God would also give me a husband, a family, and a deeper understanding of surrender.

We met people who lived faithfully before us. They showed us that ministry is not about spotlight. It is about obedience.

In missions, God’s kingdom must come before personal comfort. That does not mean we neglect our family. It means our family is surrendered to God’s purposes.

When God is first, everything else finds its right place.

2. How Do You Respond to Interruptions 👍

Proverbs 21:5 reminds us that planning is wise. Preparation matters. We teach our young people to prepare for marriage, for career, for finances. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.

But interruptions reveal the heart.

Health concerns are interruptions. Financial surprises are interruptions. Delays are interruptions.

Do we panic or do we pray?

Planning is not the same as worrying. We can plan diligently and still trust deeply.

To singles waiting for marriage, prepare your character. To young couples, prepare your home to be a place of peace. To those in ministry, prepare your teachings and your heart. But after planning, surrender the outcome to God.

3. How Can We Finish Strong 👌

Many start strong in ministry. Few finish strong.

Finishing strong means faithfulness in small things. It means repenting quickly. It means asking for help when tired. It means choosing love again in marriage.

Our prayer as a couple is simple. Lord, keep us faithful until the end. Keep us humble. Keep us dependent on You.

4. Are You Living Out God’s Mission 👋

Acts 20:24 reminds us that life is a mission given by Jesus. Career is not the final goal. Family is not the final goal. They are platforms.

As married couples we build testimonies.
As parents we raise future witnesses.
As workers we represent Christ.

Everything can serve the mission of God.

Even illness. Even waiting. Even financial stretching.

Praise Reports

Even in the middle of health concerns, God continues to move.

Divine Treats

Our small faith project Divine Treats continues to grow steadily. Our spaghetti and brownies remain top sellers. We bake from home. We prepare, pack, and deliver ourselves. Everything is done voluntarily.

We prayed for gradual growth that we could manage. God answered that prayer. We do not even know how to advertise properly online. Our Facebook page is rarely updated. Yet through school partnerships, we are baking fresh and selling out daily.

We now serve seven school partners consistently. That alone fills our current capacity of 300 brownies per day. More schools are waiting, but we cannot accept additional orders yet. We are waiting for a bigger oven and stand mixer to increase production.

By God’s provision, we were able to purchase a motorcycle for safer delivery. We are still praying for one staff member to help with early morning deliveries.

We work weeknights. Weekends remain our Sabbath. This is important for us. Ministry always comes first.

Faith Project Progress
Dorm Updates

One of our first dorm men, Pagna, is getting married this Sunday. He used to lead worship faithfully. Now he has a stable design job and continues serving in another church. We rejoice seeing him grow in faith and responsibility.

We welcomed a new young man to the dorm. He came from the province to study vocational training in air conditioning and refrigeration. These are the quiet stories of mission work. Young people leaving home, coming to the city, needing guidance and spiritual family.

Two of our young men recently got hired part time. We prayed for their employment so they could continue studying. God answered.

Two of our young ladies joined the worship team. One is training to lead worship. Another serves in media and slides. Seeing them step into leadership is a joy.

These are small victories. But in mission work, small victories are big encouragements.

Prayer Requests

We invite you to pray intentionally for us.

1. A Permanent Ministry Center

We are looking for a more permanent place for our men’s dormitory and worship venue. We hope for a location in the city center for better access to universities and workplaces. We dream of a place we can use beyond Sundays. We are praying not only to rent but if God allows, to purchase property.

Please pray for guidance, provision, and favor.

2. Pastor Vandy’s Health

Pray for relief from abdominal pain. Pray for clear diagnosis. Pray that if capsule endoscopy is God’s will, He will provide the needed funds. Pray for peace while we wait.

3. Accommodation in the Philippines

We will be in the Philippines from April 13 to 27 after seven years away. We are praying for friends or partners in Manila who can host us near the airport or major hospitals. This will help reduce expenses especially if medical appointments push through.

4. Reunion and Reconnection

We hope to reconnect with prayer partners and friends while in the Philippines. If you are there during that time, please message us. We would love to see you.

How You Can Take Part in the Mission

Mission work is not done alone. Paul had partners. So do we.

You can support in simple but powerful ways.

Pray regularly for our family and ministry in Cambodia. Pray specifically for health, provision, and the young people we disciple.

Share our blog reflections with others. Encourage someone who may be in a waiting season.

Support Divine Treats if you are in Cambodia or connect us with schools who may partner with us once we expand production.

Give financially if the Lord leads you. Medical procedures and ministry expansion require resources. We trust God as our provider, but He often provides through His people.

Most importantly, live out your mission where you are. Not everyone is called to Cambodia. But everyone is called to faithfulness.

To Those Who Feel Called to Missions

If you sense God stirring your heart for missions, do not ignore it.

Yes, there will be uncertainties. Yes, there may be seasons of health concerns. Yes, finances may stretch you.

But there is deep joy in obedience.

The race is not about comfort. It is about finishing strong.

Proverbs 21:5 reminds us to plan wisely.
2 Timothy 4:7 reminds us to finish faithfully.

Right now we are learning both.

We plan carefully.
We surrender completely.
We keep running.

Thank you for running with us,
The Hourngs serving in Cambodia 🙏💕
Email: apastorswifeincambodia@gmail.com /vandyhoung@gmail.com

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